Malcolm MacCrimmon

Dear Iain and Charlotte,

While I had hoped to be there today to support you and your family at this difficult time, please know that Pennie and my thoughts are with you all. Iain, your father was a great man who contributed very much to the successes of many of the men and women who surround you today. I am privileged to have known him and to have been guided, coached and counseled by him. He was truly a great Canadian. Our warmest regards to your family and the many friends in the Edmonton and area "pipe band" community that we share. I hope to see you very soon! Regards,

Gordon and Pennie Pelly, Calgary, Alberta

Dear Mairi, Flora, Paddy, Iain and your families,
Malcolm was a very fine gentleman who seems to be woven into our memories and family stories over many years, from the time that he and our father, Ken McLaren, were founding members of the Edmonton Boys' Pipe Band; they both joined the Calgary Highlanders at the commencement of the war. I have early memories of being at the big farm and in the lovely farmhouse. Dad was very fond of Malcolm and Malcolm played the pipes so beautifully at dad's funeral at McDougall United Church. Much more recently, Malcom spoke of his desire to make the connections back to his United Empire Loyalist MacCrimmon ancestor. Always interested in things Scottish, and in family and family history, Malcolm was a rock, with respect for today and yesterday.

Malcolm and Dad will be piping together again, and we know you will have many happy memories yourselves to bring you peace and comfort.

Sincerely,
Heather Traub and family

Dear Mairi and family,

The MacCrimmon's have always been great family friends to the Brabazon family. Many wonderful memories learning fly-fishing from Malcolm and fishing Leach Lake in Jasper as well as other trout fishing "holes" around Alberta. Jack Brabazon and Malcolm shared many good times together in the outdoors with the same passion for trout fishing. Malcolm's briliant smile, sense of humour and positive outlook on life will always be remembered. His caring nature and love for all things "Scottish" is truly Malcolm - an "Ambassador" to his country and a real gentlemen. Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish all the memories forever. Our sincere condolences to you and the rest of the MacCrimmon family.

Dear Mairi and family,
Malcolm was a treasure of history and music, a gentleman, and a great Canadian. Remembering a golden Sunday afternoon at the Winspear Concert Hall in 2010, I recall Malcolm standing in the foyer of the concert hall with you, surrounded by friends and admirers. Our conversation that afternoon ended with his comment, “It’s nice to see so many young people playing the pipes”, and then he smiled. The occasion, of course, was the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band concert, a concert that in essence was a tribute to Malcolm, highlighted by SFU’s performance of MacCrimmon’s Lament (Cumha mhic Criomein). As now we lament the loss of Malcolm, he is remembered with honour and gratitude for his gifts of music and dedicated service to his community and country. Please accept my sincere sympathy.

Mairi and all your dear family
I knew Malcolm only through correspondence and by reference from many Clan MacLeod Society friends and I dearly wanted to meet and visit with him; alas, it was not to be. He held such a store of history and clan information, as editor I regret having missed tapping into this wonderful resource for the Leod Voice.
My sincere condolences to you all in the passing of this remarkable and unique member of our clan family.

Dear Iain and Charlotte,
Iain, your dad was truly one of a kind, a true gentleman. We send our thoughts and prayers to you all. While the ocean divides, the "brotherhood" of the bagpipe knows no boundary. We are with you.

Jamie Johnston and Family

Dear MacCrimmon family,

Malcolm was a true gentleman and such an amazing piper. I loved the sound of his pipes skirling through the Prince of Wales Armouries when he so kindly played for Historical Board and other Archives events. He encouraged me to practice the pipes when I began playing a few years back, but sadly there will never be another who could make the pipes sing as he did.
My condolences -- we will all miss Malcolm and the skill and joy he brought to the music, and his twinkling eyes when he came in to research and to share his history.
Kim Christie-Milley and your friends at the City of Edmonton Archives

Mairi, Flora, Paddy, Iain and Callum Deepest sympathy on the passing of Malcolm. We all know how much he loved our Burns Supper. His favorite poem Tam o' Shanter has a stanza that Malcolm particularly cared for and which epitomizes his life:
Pleasures are like poppies spread
You seize the flower the bloom is shed
Or like the snowflake in the river
A moment white then gone forever
No man can tether time nor tide
The hour approached and Tam must ride

We also know his favorite skit was with Mr Topaz McGonigal doing the Masonic skit with Rabbi
No Churchman am I for to rail or to write
No sly man of business to plot or to fight
May every true brother of the compass and square
Have a big bellied bottle when harrased we care

We have appreciated and loved Malcolm as our Club Piper for over thirty years.

Rick and Lorna Bookham (Edmonton Dundonald Burns Club)

To The MacCrimmon Family,
Our deepest sympathies in the passing of Mr. MacCrimmon. We always enjoyed his visits to our office, and it was our pleasure to help him with his hearing needs.
Mary Ann, Marc, and Al
Alberta Hearing Service

Please accept the sympathies of the Reiz family (once of Bellevue) - the memory of the Piper will aye last a-while

Mairi, Flora, Paddy & Iain. Deepest sympathy at the loss of your husband and father.
I got to know Malcolm through an article which I wrote about him for the RCMP Quarterly Magazine in the year 2000. His honours warrant repeating at this time:
- Official Piper for the Alberta Curling |Association
- Honorary Member of "K" Division RCMP Sergeant's Mess
- Honorary Piper for "K" Division RCMP Officer's Association
- Official |Piper for "K" Division RCMP Regimental Dinners
- Official Piper for MacKay Avenue School in Edmonton
- Official Piper for the Dundonald Burns Club
- Played with the RCMP Pipes and Drums at their first official performance
- Honorary Piper of the Edmonton Historical Board
- Honorary Piper of the 49th Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
- throughout the years played pipes at numerous weddings, funerals, Citizenship Court Sittings, Robbie Burns Nights, Remembrance Day Services
Malcolm's story was unique. His love of piping has been enjoyed by all who relish highland tradition, ceremony and bagpipe music. The history of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta, originating with Colonel MacLeod was enriched through the association of the 9th Hereditary Piper to MacLeod Of MacLeod, Malcolm MacCrimmon - "Piper Extraordinaire". My parting words and thoughts of Malcolm when visiting him in the hospital were "happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again, farewell dear friend"

Joe Worthington

Our sympathies to the MacCrimmon family.
Our UCW greatly appreciated the many times Mr. MacCrimmon piped for our Robbie Burns Tea.
He was always so pleasant and outgoing which added to our day.
Highlands United Church Women (UCW)

Dear Mairi and family,

My sincere condolences.

I recall, with great fondness, being introduced to Malcolm many years ago at the Provincial Museum of Alberta through a common friend, Tom Court.
Malcolm took great interest in several model soldiers I had painted and were displayed in my office at the museum.
Malcolm would always stop by with a cheery hello and attempt to convince me to sell him the model soldiers from the Highland Regiments.Eventually, they were his and Malcolm later commissioned a painted figure based on a photo of himself as a piper in the Scots Guards during the Second World War.

I have fond memories of hearing Malcom on the pipes at many public and private functions in Edmonton. He was indeed, an icon on Robbie Burns Day.

Maurice F. V. Doll
Edmonton

My sympathies to the Maccrimmon family at this sad time. He was a very nice man whom I knew only a little, but found him to be always pleasant and friendly.He was proud of his family and spoke of them often. He will be missed.
Dorothy Wakaruk

As fine a gentleman as I ever met. The love and pride he expressed for his dear bride and family impressed me deeply. May warm memories give your family comfort at this time of profound loss.

Malcolm Was A Great Man And A Good Friend.
We Lived Across The Street From Them.
Enjoyed Some Great Talks With Malcolm.
Sorry We Will Not Be Able To Attend Services.
As We Are In Costa Rica,
Our Thoughts And Prayers Are With The Family At This Time.
Jim & Sandra McHardy

My sincerest condolences. Malcolm was a marvellous, memorable gentleman.

Mairi and Family,
Kay and I were very sorry to hear of Malcolm's passing. Our sincere condolences go out to you.
Over the years I had many great conversations with Malcolm, about Piping ,military life and different pipers we have known.
Malcolm was a good friend and I will miss him.

On behalf of my father, Melvin Lund, I send my deepest sympathy. As a member of the Calgary Highlanders during WWII he spoke so highly of Malcolm.

Norma Evans

Mairi & Family My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sadness. I have many fond memories of Malcolm especially when he piped at Weddings and Funerals

From: Roderick MacCrimmon, Inverness, Scotland.

To: Mairi and Family,
I was very sad to learn of Malcolm’s passing.
He had been a figure in my life since I was 6 years of age. He came into my life in 1940, or was it 1941. I think it is correct to say that Malcolm had taken time off from Willie Ross’s Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle to visit Dame Flora MacLeod at Dunvegan Castle, Isle-of-Skye. He then came to visit our family at our home in Borreraig. At the time my father was away at sea. My two younger brothers and I were very impressed by the tall man in Canadian Army uniform who came to visit us. If I remember rightly my mother gave him “a meal at the table” which to my young mind was a singular honour.
Malcolm certainly left a lasting memory with three young boys.
It was a connection that was maintained and Ishbel and I were honoured to have Malcolm and Mairi visit our home here in Inverness on a few occasions.
Ishbel and I especially treasure memories of our visit to Edmonton and to Malcolm’s and Mairi’s home when we visited Canada a few years ago.
We were given a very warm and hospitable welcome. On the Sunday morning Malcolm was keen to take us to the church which The MacCrimmons attended. We greatly enjoyed our visit.
Ishbel and I send sympathies to Mairi and the rest of the family.
Le Dùrachd,
Roddy and Ishbel MacCrimmon.

To the Maccrimmon family .
It saddens me that Malcolm has left us. My memories of him are all good, even those when he would give me one of his strong Scottish look`s when i had not practiced my pipes . He always had a smile for me .
My condolences to Iain and the family .
Don Kerr

Dear Mairi and family,
I am saddened to hear of the loss of my dear friend Malcolm. Anytime I needed help he was there with a smile on his face and a firm handshake. I know the pipes will be skirling, as Malcolm takes his place amongst the legions of heavenly pipers.
Please accept my sincerest condolences

Flora, Patty and Iain:
Please accept my heartful thoughts and prayers for you in your time of love and lost.
I remember your Mom and Dad in the early years of your life.
Living in the Highlands district, and going to school with Flora, {friends with Elaine, Ann and myself) I remember your parents with a lot of love.
God bless your dad for his long life and his love of family.

Marlene (Marnie Crossen) Stewart/Williams :)

I would sure like to hear from you!
[email protected]
May God Bless you and your family!
Marlene Williams

Dear Rick & Flora
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Thinking of you at this sad time.

Sandra

Dear Mairi and family,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. We will treasure our memories with times spent with Malcolm.
He will be missed by many.
The Lou Davidson Family

A Reminiscence

YES, thou art gone! and never more
Thy sunny smile shall gladden me;
But I may pass the old church door,
And pace the floor that covers thee.

May stand upon the cold, damp stone,
And think that, frozen, lies below
The lightest heart that I have known,
The kindest I shall ever know.

Yet, though I cannot see thee more,
'Tis still a comfort to have seen;
And though thy transient life is o'er,
'Tis sweet to think that thou hast been;

To think a soul so near divine,
Within a form so angel fair,
United to a heart like thine,
Has gladdened once our humble sphere.

By Anne Bronte
The Poetry Foundation

Dear Mary and family,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss. Mr. MacCrimmon was an inspiration to all who were blessed to have known him. We will always remember his warm smile, great sense of humor and kindness to all. May you and your family be blessed with peace and strenght as you endure the loss of your loving husband, father and grandfather.
Adolph & Darlene Vogelgesang & family.

Mairi,Flora, Paddy & Iain, No words can express the depth of your sorrow at the loss of your husband & father. Malcolm will be sorely missed by many. The Clark Family

Our most Heartfelt condolences to the MacCrimmon family for the loss of our dear friend Malcolm.

The Rooney Family

Ever remembered

Anne & Tom Perkins

Dear Paddy and Family: I am sorry for the loss of your father, my heart goes out to you, and your family.